City & State’s Diversity Summit will offer industry executives, public sector leaders and academics the opportunity to share ideas about how to discuss how to foster business partnerships between the state and local government, prime contractors and MWBEs and what it takes to thrive in New York’s competitive procurement arena. The full-day event brings insights and perspectives across industries within New York’s diversity and inclusion initiatives and programs.

Speakers

Rossana Rosado

New York Secretary of State

Councilman Mark Gjonaj

Chair, Committee on Small Business

Senator James Sanders, Jr.

Member, Commerce Economic Development and Small Business Committee

Assemblywoman Rodneyse Bichotte

Jonnel Doris

Senior Advisor and Director, Mayor's Office for the Minority and Women-owned Business Enterprise (M/WBE)

Gregg Bishop

Commissioner, New York City Department of Small Business Services

Lisette Camillo

Commissioner, New York City Department of Citywide Administrative Services

Gerard Bushell

President and CEO, DASNY

Sandra Wilkin

President and CEO, Bradford Constuction

Michael J. Garner

Chief Diversity Officer, Metropolitan Transportation Authority

Louis J. Coletti

President and CEO, Building Trades Employers' Association

Benjamin Neidl

Principal, Jackson Lewis P.C.

Vanya Quiñones

Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs, Pace University

Michael Massiah

Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer, The Port Authority of NY & NJ

Charles Archer

CEO, The Thrive Network

Sean Carroll

Chief Procurement Officer, New York State Office of General Services

Rachel Miller

Agency Chief Contracting Officer, New York City Administration for Children's Services

Jean Lee

President and CEO, Minority Corporate Counsel Association

Yvonne Soto

Executive Director, Office of Organizational Development and Effectiveness, New York City Department of Education

Kristin Malek

Senior Manager, Supplier Diversity, CDW

Rumbi Bwerinofa-Petrozzello

Principal, Rock Forensics, LLC

Rachel Van Tosh

Deputy Commissioner of the Division of Business Services, New York City Department of Small Business Services

Claudia Flores

Assistant Vice President, Opportunity M/W/DBE & HireNYC, New York City Economic Development Corporation

Opening Keynote by New York Secretary of State Rossana Rosado with Introduction by Alana Cantillo, Director of Government Affairs, Charter Communications

10:15am

What to Know About Doing Business in NY

This session will help firms expand their footprint with New York and network with other groups in support of NYS entities that have MWBE utilization goals. How are state agencies promoting new contracting opportunities as it relates to Article 15A? Which market sectors have the most opportunity for MWBE participation? Hear from professional services – including legal, accounting and financial, construction management and engineers, transportation suppliers, operations, facility management, emergency management and more.

Sandra Wilkin, President and CEO, Bradford Construction (moderator)

Senator James Sanders, Chair, NYS Senate Task Force on MWBE's

Assemblywoman Rodneyse Bichotte, Chair, Subcommittee on Oversight of Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprises

Agency Compliance- Understanding the Government’s Perspective and What it Takes to Getting Contracts Approved

Procurement officers from various MWBE’s government agencies will explain the complexity of RFPs, provide information on best practices for proposals, and address ways to avoid common pitfalls during your bid/no-bid decision making process.

New York City is well known for its recruitment diversity, representing all races, genders, religions and more. Organizations all stand to benefit from advancing diversity and inclusion as a strategy to remain competitive. City & State convenes a panel of experts sharing strategies on creating a culture diversity and best practices to help NY flourish on many levels.

Industry experts discuss funding opportunities and requirements related to the various state financing programs for MWBEs including loans, bonding and tax incentives. Experts will discuss ways New York can help your business and its growth as well as other resources for smaller entities.

Rebecca C. Lewis, Editorial Assistant, City & State NY (moderator)

Council Member Mark Gjonaj, Chair, Committee on Small Business

Rachel Van Tosh, Deputy Commissioner of the Division of Business Services, NYC Department of Small Business Services

Add to Calender

As founder and research director of the Empire Center for Public Policy, E.J. McMahon is a go-to expert on budget plans and policy proposals. His organization promotes greater transparency, accountability and fiscal responsibility in state government, which often puts him at odds with lawmakers and the governor. McMahon previously worked as a journalist in Albany, as an Assembly Republican staffer and a budget adviser for almost 30 years, giving him great insight into the goings-on in the Capitol.